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Replying To PoolSturgeon: "Are you for real? First of all from a supporters' POV you must be one of the few fans that is happy with the extra time and expense it takes to travel to the capital. Or else like me, you must be living in or relatively close to Dublin and Croke Park is a convenient venue for you.
Secondly, in 2023 when we last appeared in a Leinster final and the opposition was Kilkenny, the official attendance was 24,483. This was a time when we had the "Henry factor", when there was a optimism around the team that we could be All Ireland contenders and Kilkenny also had strong hopes of going all the way. Different landscape this time...there is a general belief in both counties (and in the country as a whole) that neither team are genuine All Ireland contenders, the trust level between the Galway hurling public and the team is only in the early stages of repair , there's still a fear about that when we actually come up against a good team that we'll get a tonking or, like what happened in the round robin fixture in Nowlan Park, that the team wont "turn up" or put in an insipid display. Then you have the fact that at the moment our footballers are getting the more attention as a team the Galway public can get behind and that have the potential to achieve something (that might all change after the weekend of course).
If less that 25,000 attended the Leinster final in 2023 when there were more "pull" factors to attract a large crowd I reckon the attendance this year will struggle to reach 20,000. Joe Canning's suggestion makes complete sense." I agree with you……and Joe Canning.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2523 - 28/05/2025 15:27:52
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Replying To PoolSturgeon: "Are you for real? First of all from a supporters' POV you must be one of the few fans that is happy with the extra time and expense it takes to travel to the capital. Or else like me, you must be living in or relatively close to Dublin and Croke Park is a convenient venue for you.
Secondly, in 2023 when we last appeared in a Leinster final and the opposition was Kilkenny, the official attendance was 24,483. This was a time when we had the "Henry factor", when there was a optimism around the team that we could be All Ireland contenders and Kilkenny also had strong hopes of going all the way. Different landscape this time...there is a general belief in both counties (and in the country as a whole) that neither team are genuine All Ireland contenders, the trust level between the Galway hurling public and the team is only in the early stages of repair , there's still a fear about that when we actually come up against a good team that we'll get a tonking or, like what happened in the round robin fixture in Nowlan Park, that the team wont "turn up" or put in an insipid display. Then you have the fact that at the moment our footballers are getting the more attention as a team the Galway public can get behind and that have the potential to achieve something (that might all change after the weekend of course).
If less that 25,000 attended the Leinster final in 2023 when there were more "pull" factors to attract a large crowd I reckon the attendance this year will struggle to reach 20,000. Joe Canning's suggestion makes complete sense." Again, I mention it could be our only trip to Croke Park as Galway hurling supporters, so let us have that day out. It's every child's dream to attend finals and watch their team play in a portlaois or Tullamore alright! Nothing like rounding scooby doo avenue and getting that first glimpse of O Moore Park.
CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 531 - 28/05/2025 16:00:40
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Replying To CillTormoir: "Again, I mention it could be our only trip to Croke Park as Galway hurling supporters, so let us have that day out. It's every child's dream to attend finals and watch their team play in a portlaois or Tullamore alright! Nothing like rounding scooby doo avenue and getting that first glimpse of O Moore Park." Galway club teams make Croke Park quite regularly, so kids have other avenues besides destroying the atmosphere of a Leinster final because 20,000 in CP definitely creates no atmosphere. Why not build upon the kids' anticipation and enthusiasm with the next day out (the 'BIG ONE'), if Galway win? And then they may get to CP.
Don't most kids get to play in CP anyway? Almost all my relatives' children have played there, or so I hear, while still in the national school. And that's not just a JP thing, as a lot of my relatives live in Tipp (sympathies) and Cork (commiserations).
foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2273 - 28/05/2025 16:14:49
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Replying To Trump2020: "I agree with you……and Joe Canning." Portlaoise have complety closed off all parking around the pitch on the roadsides and sidestreets with bicycle tracks so wouldnt have parking for 20000 people.Agree only for that it would be a disaster.
Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 377 - 28/05/2025 18:25:47
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There's an intercity train from Galway to Tullamore, it's also a better pitch and venue for hurling imo.
Crashingwaves (Galway) - Posts: 160 - 29/05/2025 09:16:41
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No I'm totally against Joe on this one. Playing big games in almost annually imo is an advantage for us (albeit one we don't make great use of). Without it we could end up in the Tipp/Waterford situation of before you knwo if it's 5 or 6 years since we played in Croke Park and you have a third of a team who have never tasted it.
And from a suporters point of view, for me anyway, the more trips the better. It's where you want to be. As for atmosphere, no.1 I don't particularly notice it if we're playing Kilkenny as it's probably built up so much in my own head! But surely the goal should be to improve the atmopsphere, like with the initiative to bring kids in for free this year, ratehr than to leave the big stadium.
O'Moore park's capacity is 27,000 and we had 60,000 at the 2017 final and there was 40,000-50,000 there in 2018 and 2019 so that's the potential in the competition and the aim should be to get the average close to that. Ironically it was Dublin making it in The problem here isn't Croke Park it's Kilkenny's dominance and I think moving the Leinster showpiece to a provincial ground would take away from the match rather than add tot he atmosphere.
Finally and this may just be me, when i think of Lenster titles 2012 and 2017 spring to mind, the replay in Thurles in 2018 feels more like we won an All Ireland quarter final, whereas if we had got over the line the first day I've no doubt the Leinster 2 in a row would feel like more of an achievement.
IN any case I think this is a mountain out of a molehill, doesn't make much difference either way. People will start to tire of the 'Isn't it a disgrace Waterford's season is over in May' debate in the next week or so so we need something different to give out about and this will tide us over nicely untilt he 'Push the All Irelands back 4 weeks' ramblings start up
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 62 - 29/05/2025 09:40:27
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The GAA are offering out 20,000 free kids tickets to the Leinster final so hopefully that will entice clubs to bring buses of kids to the match.
Past hurler (None) - Posts: 951 - 29/05/2025 09:52:57
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Replying To Overdahill: "No I'm totally against Joe on this one. Playing big games in almost annually imo is an advantage for us (albeit one we don't make great use of). Without it we could end up in the Tipp/Waterford situation of before you knwo if it's 5 or 6 years since we played in Croke Park and you have a third of a team who have never tasted it.
And from a suporters point of view, for me anyway, the more trips the better. It's where you want to be. As for atmosphere, no.1 I don't particularly notice it if we're playing Kilkenny as it's probably built up so much in my own head! But surely the goal should be to improve the atmopsphere, like with the initiative to bring kids in for free this year, ratehr than to leave the big stadium.
O'Moore park's capacity is 27,000 and we had 60,000 at the 2017 final and there was 40,000-50,000 there in 2018 and 2019 so that's the potential in the competition and the aim should be to get the average close to that. Ironically it was Dublin making it in The problem here isn't Croke Park it's Kilkenny's dominance and I think moving the Leinster showpiece to a provincial ground would take away from the match rather than add tot he atmosphere.
Finally and this may just be me, when i think of Lenster titles 2012 and 2017 spring to mind, the replay in Thurles in 2018 feels more like we won an All Ireland quarter final, whereas if we had got over the line the first day I've no doubt the Leinster 2 in a row would feel like more of an achievement.
IN any case I think this is a mountain out of a molehill, doesn't make much difference either way. People will start to tire of the 'Isn't it a disgrace Waterford's season is over in May' debate in the next week or so so we need something different to give out about and this will tide us over nicely untilt he 'Push the All Irelands back 4 weeks' ramblings start up" If you aren't good enough to get to Croke Park for reasons other than geography that's entirely your own problem.
Playing in CP in front of 25K is not hectic preparation for playing in an AISF in front of 70K+ so 'tasting it' won't help much.
You might not notice the (lack of) atmosphere but I and many others do. Kilkenny is a pretty small county anyway, winning Leinster doesn't move the needle for them anymore but even they'd probably be more motivated to go to a different venue with a better atmosphere.
For me it would make for a bigger occasion to win a LF in front of a full house at a smaller venue than a 3/4 empty CP and I'd bet there isn't a single person who'd lament Whelan going up the steps to pick up Bob O'Keeffe in (say) Tullamore this year because they were wishing it was in CP instead
Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 928 - 29/05/2025 10:42:44
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Replying To Overdahill: "No I'm totally against Joe on this one. Playing big games in almost annually imo is an advantage for us (albeit one we don't make great use of). Without it we could end up in the Tipp/Waterford situation of before you knwo if it's 5 or 6 years since we played in Croke Park and you have a third of a team who have never tasted it.
And from a suporters point of view, for me anyway, the more trips the better. It's where you want to be. As for atmosphere, no.1 I don't particularly notice it if we're playing Kilkenny as it's probably built up so much in my own head! But surely the goal should be to improve the atmopsphere, like with the initiative to bring kids in for free this year, ratehr than to leave the big stadium.
O'Moore park's capacity is 27,000 and we had 60,000 at the 2017 final and there was 40,000-50,000 there in 2018 and 2019 so that's the potential in the competition and the aim should be to get the average close to that. Ironically it was Dublin making it in The problem here isn't Croke Park it's Kilkenny's dominance and I think moving the Leinster showpiece to a provincial ground would take away from the match rather than add tot he atmosphere.
Finally and this may just be me, when i think of Lenster titles 2012 and 2017 spring to mind, the replay in Thurles in 2018 feels more like we won an All Ireland quarter final, whereas if we had got over the line the first day I've no doubt the Leinster 2 in a row would feel like more of an achievement.
IN any case I think this is a mountain out of a molehill, doesn't make much difference either way. People will start to tire of the 'Isn't it a disgrace Waterford's season is over in May' debate in the next week or so so we need something different to give out about and this will tide us over nicely untilt he 'Push the All Irelands back 4 weeks' ramblings start up" It's Waterford's own fault that their season is over. Who can they blame but themselves, if they were good enough they'd qualify, like ourselves last year and Wexford this year.
Mullane wants 4 qualifiers out of each province.
An absurd idea, it would kill the provincial jeopardy overnight.
And Waterford would still find a way to not qualify.
Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 928 - 29/05/2025 10:46:19
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Replying To Stool Pigeon: "It's Waterford's own fault that their season is over. Who can they blame but themselves, if they were good enough they'd qualify, like ourselves last year and Wexford this year.
Mullane wants 4 qualifiers out of each province.
An absurd idea, it would kill the provincial jeopardy overnight.
And Waterford would still find a way to not qualify." Couldn't agree more but I think this was posted in the wrong place :D
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 62 - 29/05/2025 11:32:23
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Replying To Stool Pigeon: "If you aren't good enough to get to Croke Park for reasons other than geography that's entirely your own problem.
Playing in CP in front of 25K is not hectic preparation for playing in an AISF in front of 70K+ so 'tasting it' won't help much.
You might not notice the (lack of) atmosphere but I and many others do. Kilkenny is a pretty small county anyway, winning Leinster doesn't move the needle for them anymore but even they'd probably be more motivated to go to a different venue with a better atmosphere.
For me it would make for a bigger occasion to win a LF in front of a full house at a smaller venue than a 3/4 empty CP and I'd bet there isn't a single person who'd lament Whelan going up the steps to pick up Bob O'Keeffe in (say) Tullamore this year because they were wishing it was in CP instead" I think you're way off there with how much of an advantage it is for us to get games in Croke Park. whether it's empty of 82,000 there the more games you play there the better.
As I say there was 40,000 at the draw in 2018, the needle moves plenty for Galway and Kilkenny fans if the 2 teams are considered up to standard, venue has nothing to do with it.
Mabye I'm selfish and just want to go to Croker!
I just think by removing it from Croke Park you're admitting defeat and saying the Leinster championship has declined, instead of the aim being to get the crowds back. There's an element of swings and roundabout here in any case, it's only 10 years ago that only 25,000 turned up to see Tipp hammer Waterford in a Munster final when Tipp were seen as the only team in Muster who were all ireland contenders, I can remember a lot of doom mongering at the time as well, Including a couple of former palyers wondering if we should go back to straight knockout in order to save the Musnter championship!
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 62 - 29/05/2025 11:42:25
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Replying To Stool Pigeon: "If you aren't good enough to get to Croke Park for reasons other than geography that's entirely your own problem.
Playing in CP in front of 25K is not hectic preparation for playing in an AISF in front of 70K+ so 'tasting it' won't help much.
You might not notice the (lack of) atmosphere but I and many others do. Kilkenny is a pretty small county anyway, winning Leinster doesn't move the needle for them anymore but even they'd probably be more motivated to go to a different venue with a better atmosphere.
For me it would make for a bigger occasion to win a LF in front of a full house at a smaller venue than a 3/4 empty CP and I'd bet there isn't a single person who'd lament Whelan going up the steps to pick up Bob O'Keeffe in (say) Tullamore this year because they were wishing it was in CP instead" Especially if it was a closer venue
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16062 - 29/05/2025 11:58:20
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Replying To Overdahill: "I think you're way off there with how much of an advantage it is for us to get games in Croke Park. whether it's empty of 82,000 there the more games you play there the better.
As I say there was 40,000 at the draw in 2018, the needle moves plenty for Galway and Kilkenny fans if the 2 teams are considered up to standard, venue has nothing to do with it.
Mabye I'm selfish and just want to go to Croker!
I just think by removing it from Croke Park you're admitting defeat and saying the Leinster championship has declined, instead of the aim being to get the crowds back. There's an element of swings and roundabout here in any case, it's only 10 years ago that only 25,000 turned up to see Tipp hammer Waterford in a Munster final when Tipp were seen as the only team in Muster who were all ireland contenders, I can remember a lot of doom mongering at the time as well, Including a couple of former palyers wondering if we should go back to straight knockout in order to save the Musnter championship!" What's the future advantage of playing in front of a stadium that's a quarter full?
Can you explain the advantage of that if we rock up in an AISF in front of a capacity crowd?
If the venue has nothing to do with it why are you so invested in staying in CP which apparently conveys some mystical 'advantage' to us? The Munster final venue changes frequently and nobody cares.
Kilkenny aren't very invested in winning Leinster these days, they barely celebrate it, winning Leinster won't keep Lyng in a job if they don't make an impression down the line. A move to a likely full house venue would reinvigorate things at a stroke, the Leinster Final is supposed to be the showpiece event of the whole championship, and having it in a ground that's 25% full isn't selling the event to anyone.
'The aim being to get the crowds back'
Do you think they are just going to randomly return?
I would put it to you that the thing most likely to 'get the crowds back' is a Leinster Final held in front of a full house generating a good atmosphere, not having the winning captain's speech echoing around an almost empty stadium.
Not to mention that Kilkenny have won the last 4 in a row so maybe it would benefit everyone else if KK had to 'go on the road'
Perhaps you have a better idea(s) than me, if so, let's have some :)
Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 928 - 29/05/2025 13:09:26
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Replying To Stool Pigeon: "What's the future advantage of playing in front of a stadium that's a quarter full?
Can you explain the advantage of that if we rock up in an AISF in front of a capacity crowd?
If the venue has nothing to do with it why are you so invested in staying in CP which apparently conveys some mystical 'advantage' to us? The Munster final venue changes frequently and nobody cares.
Kilkenny aren't very invested in winning Leinster these days, they barely celebrate it, winning Leinster won't keep Lyng in a job if they don't make an impression down the line. A move to a likely full house venue would reinvigorate things at a stroke, the Leinster Final is supposed to be the showpiece event of the whole championship, and having it in a ground that's 25% full isn't selling the event to anyone.
'The aim being to get the crowds back'
Do you think they are just going to randomly return?
I would put it to you that the thing most likely to 'get the crowds back' is a Leinster Final held in front of a full house generating a good atmosphere, not having the winning captain's speech echoing around an almost empty stadium.
Not to mention that Kilkenny have won the last 4 in a row so maybe it would benefit everyone else if KK had to 'go on the road'
Perhaps you have a better idea(s) than me, if so, let's have some :)" The Kilkenny team is very much invested in winning every year only because they want to get to the semi-final all ireland.
I'd say its the Kilkenny fans that are not too interested, they were absolutely spoilt from 2006 to 2015 with that fabulous team.
Past hurler (None) - Posts: 951 - 29/05/2025 14:33:33
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Replying To Stool Pigeon: "What's the future advantage of playing in front of a stadium that's a quarter full?
Can you explain the advantage of that if we rock up in an AISF in front of a capacity crowd?
If the venue has nothing to do with it why are you so invested in staying in CP which apparently conveys some mystical 'advantage' to us? The Munster final venue changes frequently and nobody cares.
Kilkenny aren't very invested in winning Leinster these days, they barely celebrate it, winning Leinster won't keep Lyng in a job if they don't make an impression down the line. A move to a likely full house venue would reinvigorate things at a stroke, the Leinster Final is supposed to be the showpiece event of the whole championship, and having it in a ground that's 25% full isn't selling the event to anyone.
'The aim being to get the crowds back'
Do you think they are just going to randomly return?
I would put it to you that the thing most likely to 'get the crowds back' is a Leinster Final held in front of a full house generating a good atmosphere, not having the winning captain's speech echoing around an almost empty stadium.
Not to mention that Kilkenny have won the last 4 in a row so maybe it would benefit everyone else if KK had to 'go on the road'
Perhaps you have a better idea(s) than me, if so, let's have some :)" The only way you might get a nearly full house is if Wexford and Offaly managed to get to the final Kilkenny support have very little interest in winning another Leinster tital
minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 277 - 29/05/2025 14:34:33
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Replying To minor77: "The only way you might get a nearly full house is if Wexford and Offaly managed to get to the final Kilkenny support have very little interest in winning another Leinster tital" They're too mean to travel to Croke Park. They all still have their Communion money, and they've a chip on their shoulder over having no beach.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16062 - 29/05/2025 15:15:47
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Replying To Past hurler: "The Kilkenny team is very much invested in winning every year only because they want to get to the semi-final all ireland.
I'd say its the Kilkenny fans that are not too interested, they were absolutely spoilt from 2006 to 2015 with that fabulous team." Well yeah, that was my point, of course the players are invested 100%, who doesn't want to win a title?
But their supporters aren't too fussed, no, based on all evidence of recent years
Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 928 - 29/05/2025 16:15:22
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Change of goalkeeper for the Leinster Final.
SixtiesKid (Galway) - Posts: 345 - 29/05/2025 16:35:26
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Replying To Viking66: "They're too mean to travel to Croke Park. They all still have their Communion money, and they've a chip on their shoulder over having no beach." They can have some of our beaches if we can have some of their 76 leinsters.Fed up going to the beach in the summer when their going to croke park.Has to change sometime i suppose viking we can only keep the faith getting harder as we get older though.
Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 377 - 29/05/2025 18:20:26
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Replying To Viking66: "They're too mean to travel to Croke Park. They all still have their Communion money, and they've a chip on their shoulder over having no beach." Could Wexford not swap a few beaches for a leinster title
minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 277 - 29/05/2025 21:16:03
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